20 Century German Pioneers in Modern Astrology
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20 th Century German Pioneers in Modern Astrology © 2000 Hamish Saunders The beginning of the 20 th century saw a renewed interest in Western Astrology after almost 300 years of intellectual indifference. Prior to this, in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, there was little, if any, evidence of it being actively pursued on the European continent. It would seem that the only country in Europe that had a discernible astrological presence during those centuries was England and even there it wasn’t in the greatest shape. English speaking astrologers practised a traditional astrology that was derived from medieval practice but had been repeatedly reformed during the 16 th to 18 th centuries to the extent that much of its valuable theory and practice had been lost or misunderstood. In its place, from the 1870’s onwards, innovations, reforms, and an academic interest in oriental astrology encouraged by the Theosophical Society led the way to the changes that would occur in the 20 th century. To quote Robert Zoller: “After the eighth decade (of the 19 th century) revisionism enters the astrological scene with the rise of innovations such as Heliocentric Astrology and the spread of an interest in Indian Astrology. This is important as it represents a break in the integrity of Western Astrological practice; a universalization of the Art which entails a willingness to try a number of astrological techniques regardless of the metaphysical, cultural or religious milieu to which they belong. That this could happen at all shows that the practitioners of astrology were by this time unable to appreciate the importance of such concepts. They had become mere practitioners; no longer were they philosophers." Zoller goes on to say: It is this fact, perhaps more than any other which permits the 20 th century development of New Age revisions of astrology, characterised as they are by a lack of method, integrated philosophical or metaphysical vision and a patchwork or “techniques” drawn from wholly unconnected traditions: Medieval Western “Uranian,” Indian, etc - or even from non-existent traditions, e.g. Celtic Tree Zodiac.” In discussions with Robert, during his visits to New Zealand, I found myself trying to better understand the conditions that existed at the beginning of the 20 th century that gave rise to the astrology we have now; and, in particular, led to the development of the revolutionary systems of astrology such as the Hamburg School of Astrology and Cosmobiology in Germany. So, what was happening in Germany? It would be incorrect to assume that there was an identifiable astrological movement in Germany before 1914. Very few Germans outside of the Theosophical Society would have known of astrology’s existence. And, the few German practitioners that did exist in the early part of the 20 th century drew their astrological inspirations from the English astrologers, whom they considered to be the reigning masters of the art. However, according to Ellic Howe, the German astrological movement of the 20 th century is an interesting phenomenon that should involve us for the following reasons: 1 Between about 1920 and 1934 it was the largest and most efficiently organised astrological movement of its day. 2 German dedication and energy to its study was without parallel. 3 German astrologers, between the World Wars, were the only astrologers that experienced serious difficulties with the authorities. 4 The Nazis tried to totally abolish belief and practice of astrology. The pioneers of the new German astrology in the early part of the 20 th century were: Karl BRANDLER-PRACHT Baron Herbert Frieheir von KLOECKLER Alfred WITTE Elsbeth EBERTIN Reinhold EBERTIN All of these astrologers were advocates for and pioneers of a modern, scientific-orientated approach to astrology. Karl Brandler-Pracht (11.2.1864; 05:22 LMT; Vienna, 6E23, 48N13 Source: Taeger via Belcsak from him) is considered to be the founder of modern Austrian astrology. He was an actor, occultist, psychic, author and astrologer. He combined eastern philosophy, yoga and esoteric teachings with astrology. He studied astrology in the USA during the latter part of the 19 th century, while performing in German-language theatres in Chicago. On returning to Europe c1900 he began translating astrology books for the German market. In 1907-09 he organised astrology groups in Vienna, Munich and Leipzig. He became the first editor of the Astrology Review. The Astrology Review was the most important and serious periodical in astrology from 1920 until 1938. The Nazis shut it down in 1938. The First World War halted progress in astrology and Brandler-Pracht moved to Switzerland where he founded astrological societies in Zurich and St. Gallen. The importance of Brandler-Pracht in the development of modern German astrology lies in the fact that he is known to have initiated a number of astrological societies and translated works from English to German and authored the “Astrological Library” series of manuals. He also influenced major German astrologers such as Witte and the Ebertins. It was in 1907 that the first of Brandler-Pracht’s volumes that fell into the hands of Elsbeth Ebertin, the graphologist and mother of Reinhold Ebertin . A Russian client of hers sent it to her because he thought she should study astrology. Initially, she couldn’t make head or tail of it and put it aside and forgot about it. About three years later she was given ‘an impressive’ character delineation by a woman who was an astrologer masquerading as a graphologist. This astrologer, whose name I don’t know knew nothing about graphology, but advertised herself as a graphologist to avoid the attention of the authorities. So impressed was Elsbeth with the possibilities offered by astrology that she began studying it with the aid of Brandler-Pracht’s manual. In order to speed up her learning process she commissioned Albert Kniepf , a Hamburg astrologer, to prepare her chart. Of particular interest to her was his remark: “At the moment you are suffering from a pronounced suicidal mania and have to battle with excessively difficult conditions in your own life.” Astrology House. 147a Centreway Road, Orewa 0931, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: + 64 9 421 0033 Email: [email protected] www.astrology-house.com This was apparently true and enough to convince her that astrology was a valid and worthy subject to pursue. Ellic Howe, described Elsbeth as follows: "She was by far the most accomplished German astrological publicist of her generation. Indeed, I doubt whether anyone else, with the possible exception of the late R. H. Naylor, has ever matched her skill in presenting astrology to the general public. She was unknown in German astrological circles before 1914, but a decade later already enjoyed a considerable reputation as a sibyl (female soothsayer, prophetess). Furthermore she was the first woman in Germany to make a name for herself as a professional astrologer." Elsbeth Ebertin was born on May 14, 1880, at 6:22 PM, CET in Goerlitz, Germany, 51°N09', 15°E00' (Source: Reinhold Ebertin). Very little, if anything, is known about her childhood. American astrologer, Eleonora Kimmel found a poem Elsbeth had written as a young girl. Her poem expressed the loveless childhood she endured especially the longing to be loved by her mother and father. She bore her pain silently and felt she was a child conceived by duty rather than out of love. That is shown clearly in the nearly perfect Saturn/Moon square in her horoscope. She married at an early age, and her son Reinhold was born on February 16, 1901, before she was twenty-one years old. She was divorced five years later, and the custody of Reinhold was bestowed upon the father. She separated from her son when he was five years old and was forbidden to contact him. Elsbeth was a prolific writer during her days working as a graphologist and she became even more prolific as an astrologer writing many periodicals, annuals and books. In 1915, she published Royal Nativities. In 1916 came a study of the then current astrological prospects of Wilhelm II of Germany, George V of Great Britain and Nicholas of Russia. She foresaw the Russian Revolution, the collapse of Germany, and the end of World War I. In that same year her widely read annual prophetic almanac A Glance into the Future made minor publishing history, due to the number of copies sold (possibly 20,000). This was the predecessor of many similar publications. By 1920 she had already established a considerable reputation. The former king of Bulgaria, who was living in exile in Germany, was one of her most faithful and treasured clients. Elsbeth was responsible for an astrological forecast concerning the Fuehrer that caused much discussion in Munich and provided her with some welcome personal publicity and public acclaim. At age 43, when she was writing the 1924 edition of a Glance into the Future , she received a letter from Munich from one of Hitler's many enthusiastic women supporters. The woman sent her his birth data, but not the hour, and asked what she thought of his horoscope. Elsbeth’s reply was published without revealing Hitler's name in the 1924 edition of her yearbook, which was on sale by the end of July 1923. She wrote: " A man of action born on April 20th, with the Sun 29 degrees Aries at the time of his birth, can expose himself to personal danger by excessively incautious action and could very likely trigger off an uncontrollable crises. His constellations show that this man is to be taken seriously indeed: he is destined to play a Fuehrer role in future battles. It seems that the man I have in mind, with this strong Aries influence, is destined to sacrifice himself for the German nation, also to face up to all circumstances with audacity and courage, even when it is a matter of life and death, and to give an impulse which will burst forth quite suddenly to a Astrology House.